Mating hinge for a portable structure
The present invention relates generally to a device and method to secure spherical rod ends that are used to support a portable structure, such as a tent. These improved interconnection means, which are generally hinges, are adapted to allow limited movement of the rods by way of a ball and socket type connection, thereby facilitating installation of the portable structure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/519,538, filed Nov. 12, 2003, which is incorporated by reference in it entirety herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to portable support structures such as tents. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is a hinge that is adapted for interconnection to support rods of portable tents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPortable tents are generally constructed of a fabric material supported by a plurality of support structures, such as rods or poles. Devices and methods for connecting a plurality of rods are well known. However, there are many drawbacks to traditional support connection devices. More specifically, these devises are often difficult to install, are too heavy, are brittle, etc. In addition, many devices used to connect a plurality of rods tend to become dislodged from side walls of the tent, thus not providing sufficient lateral support. Thus, there is a long felt need in the field of portable support structure construction to provide a device and method that facilitates quick and efficient erection of the structure, and which is durable enough to be used in severe wind and inclement weather.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is thus one aspect of the present invention to provide a hinge adapted to receive and support polls or rods that are used as the primary support of a portable tent structure. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of hinge members, each hinge member having a plurality of apertures that are adapted to receive and seat the end of a support rod. Generally, portable structures are constructed from an assemblage of fabric walls that are supported by a skeleton-like support structure. This support structure often includes a plurality of interconnected rods, or poles, that provide locations thereon to interconnect to the fabric walls. In one embodiment of the present invention, the rods include spherical ends that are adapted to interconnect with the corners of the fabric walls and a center hub system to stretch the fabric and provide a wall that is capable of withstanding shear loads. More specifically, the rods are interconnected to a wall-centered hub, or node, thus defining a crossed configuration wherein the opposite ends of the rods are interconnected to corners of the fabric wall to create a taut wall. The rods are interconnected to each other in one embodiment of the present invention by hinge members that are adapted to receive and secure the rod's spherical ends. Thus, by attaching a plurality of fabric walls, a three-dimensional structure is formed, wherein the roof thereof is supported by rods that interconnect the rod ends at the corners of the fabric walls.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a hinge assembly that is easily installed, thus decreasing the time it takes to erect the portable structure. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention employs hinge members that receive at least two rod ends, wherein a second similar hinge is interconnected thereto. In addition, a cap member is interconnected to the hinge members, wherein the rod's spherical ends are prevented from becoming disconnected from the hinge. The hinges employ seating locations for the rod ends that allow the rods to angulate, thus facilitating installation. The other ends of the rods are interconnected to the corners of the wall with fabric sleeves or other means. Finally, the hinge members are moved into place, generally in the center of the fabric wall, and the hinge assembly is interconnected to the wall, for example with a bolt. Upon interconnection, the rods bow slightly thus stressing the fabric and creating a taut wall.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a hinge system that is made of common materials, and is thus less expensive to manufacture. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is constructed of cast or machined material, such as aluminum. In addition, the rods of one embodiment of the invention are constructed of fiberglass wherein the spherical end pieces are interconnected with glue, for example.
Thus, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a support rod interconnection system for use with a portable structure, the support rods having spherical ball ends interconnected thereto, comprising:
a first hinge of a generally rectangular shape, comprising:
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- a socket having a surface for engagement with a spherical ball end,
- an upper opening providing access to said socket, said upper opening begin equal to or greater than the diameter of the spherical ball end,
- a side opening providing access to said socket, said side opening being less than the diameter of the spherical ball end;
a second hinge of a generally rectangular shape for interconnection with said first hinge, comprising:
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- a socket having a surface for engagement with a spherical ball end,
- an upper opening providing access to said socket, said upper opening being equal to or greater than the diameter of the spherical ball end,
- a side opening providing access to said socket, said side opening being less than the diameter of the spherical ball end; and
wherein said first hinge is adapted to receive and rotatably secure the ball ends of at least two rods and said second hinge is adapted to receive and rotatably secure the ball ends of at least two rods, all rods having opposite ends being secured to a wall of the portable structure to form a semi ridged structure.
The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.
To assist in the understanding of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to
In order to construct a tent 14 or other structure, a user initially selects rods 2 of proper length. The rod 2 is threaded through an upper opening 28 on the top surface of the hinge. The ball end 12 of the rod 2 is then rotatably secured in the socket 8 by the ball seat 10. Once seated, the rod 2 cannot be pulled from the hinge and is able to rotate axially or tilt at an angle with respect to the top and side surfaces of the hinge. Next, a second rod with a spherical end 12 is placed in a second socket 8 of the hinge. After both mating hinges are operably interconnected to their respective rods they are interconnected. The other ends of the rods are attached to the four corners of the tent wall 20. The hinges are pushed into place adjacent to the wall 20, thereby deflecting the rods and stretching the tent wall 20 and imparting rigidity thereto. Once the tent walls 20 are in place, the bolt 16 is threaded through a rubber washer 22A on the outside of the tent fabric 26, through a rubber grommet 30 that is incorporated in the tent fabric 26, and then through the hinge. A rubber pad 32 is interconnected to the bolt 16 with a washer 22B, a lock nut 24B, and a cap nut 24A. The cap nut 24A and the rubber pad 32 will protect individuals inside the tent 14 from injury from contact with a sharp fastener, for example.
It is important to note that the arrangement of the hinge and rubber pad 32 prevent the spherical ends 12 from becoming dislodged from the sockets 8 of the hinges. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is assembled wherein the second hinge 6 prevents the spherical ends 12 of the rods 2 of the first hinge 4 from being displaced from the sockets 8 of the first hinge 4 because it partially closes the upper opening 28 that provides access to the socket 8. The pad 32 performs the same function with respect to the second hinge 6. This feature makes the system easy to install because the user does not have to be concerned with the spherical ends 12 becoming dislodged during installation.
It is important to note that the system as shown herein may be constructed to accommodate any number of rods 12. More specifically, a hinge with more than two sockets may be provided such that a plurality of rods may be interconnected to a single hinge. Alternatively, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of hinges may be interconnected to accommodate a plurality of rods.
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While various embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications adaptations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A support rod interconnection system adapted for use with a flexible portable structure, the support rods having spherical ball ends interconnected thereto, comprising:
- a first hinge of a generally rectangular shape, comprising: a socket having a surface for engagement with a spherical ball end, an upper opening providing access to said socket, said upper opening having a dimension being equal to or greater than the diameter of the spherical ball end, a side opening providing access to said socket, said side opening having a dimension being less than the diameter of the spherical ball end;
- a second hinge of a generally rectangular shape for interconnection with said first hinge, comprising: a socket having a surface for engagement with a spherical ball end, an upper opening providing access to said socket, said upper opening having a dimension equal to or greater than the diameter of the spherical ball end, a side opening providing access to said socket, said side opening having a dimension less than the diameter of the spherical ball end; and
- wherein said first hinge is adapted to receive and rotatably secure the ball ends of at least two rods and said second hinge is adapted to receive and rotatably secure the ball ends of at least two rods, all rods having opposite ends being secured to a wall of the portable structure to form a semi ridged structure.
2. The support rod interconnection system of claim 1, further comprising
- a pad interconnected to said second hinge, said pad having a cover that generally obstructs said upper opening of said socket of said second hinge, thereby preventing removal of the rods situated therein.
3. The support rod interconnection system of claim 1, wherein said first hinge and said second hinge are constructed from at least one of a plastic, a metal, and a teflon.
4. The support rod interconnection system of claim 1, wherein said first hinge includes at least two recesses to facilitate insertion of the rods into said second hinge.
5. The support rod interconnection system of claim 1, wherein said first hinge includes a mating protrusion for engagement into a recess integrated into said second hinge.
6. The support rod interconnection system of claim 1, wherein said first hinge includes a second hinge mating surface located a distance below the top surface thereof.
7. The support rod interconnection system of claim 1, wherein said surface situated in said socket of each of said first hinge and said second hinge is located at least about fifty percent below the top surface thereof.
8. A support assembly for a portable structure, comprising:
- a first hinge device with an aperture that has a seating surface positioned therein;
- a second hinge device with an aperture that has a seating surface positioned therein, said second hinge device interconnected to said first hinge device;
- a first support rod, having a first end and a second end, said first end having a generally spherical shape that is operably interconnected to said first aperture, wherein said first end is in contact with said seating surface of said first aperture and free to rotate;
- a second support rod, having a first and a second end, said first end having a generally spherical shape that is operably interconnected to said second hinge, wherein said first end is in contact with said seating surface of said first aperture and free to rotate;
- wherein said first support rod and said second support rod are oriented at a predetermined angle to form a portion of a stable skeletal structure adapted to support the portable structure.
9. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said means for interconnecting said first hinge device to said second hinge device is a selectively removable fastener.
10. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said aperture of said first hinge and said aperture of said second hinge have a tapered geometric profile, wherein the diameter thereof reduces from a length that allows said first ends of said first support rod and said second support rod to enter thereto, but be seated on a smaller diameter.
11. The support assembly of claim 8, further comprising a pad interconnected to said second hinge device, said pad having a cover that generally obstructs said aperture of said second hinge, thereby preventing removal of the support rods situated therein.
12. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said first hinge device and said second hinge device are constructed from at least one of a plastic, a metal, and a teflon.
13. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said first hinge device includes at least two recesses to facilitate insertion of the rods into said second hinge device.
14. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said first hinge device includes a mating protrusion for engagement into a recess integrated into said second hinge device.
15. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said first hinge device includes a second hinge device mating surface located a distance below the top surface thereof.
16. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein said seating surface situated in said aperture of said first hinge device and said second hinge device is located at least about fifty percent below the top surface thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 12, 2004
Publication Date: May 12, 2005
Inventors: Robert Fulcher (Grand Junction, CO), Allan Beavers (Grand Junction, CO)
Application Number: 10/988,056